TRANSYLVANIA. Gabriel Bethlen, 1613-1629. Taler 1627 MC (Silver, 44 mm, 28.45 g, 4 h), Košice (Kaschau). GABR•D:G•SA•R•IMP•ET• - •TRANS•PRINCEPS Cuirassed bust of Gabriel Bethlen to right, holding scepter in his right hand. Rev. PAR•RE•HVN•DNS•SICO•OP•RATIB•DVX•16•27• Crowned arms between mintmark M - C. Davenport 4719. Resch 405. Unger 253a. Very rare. A wonderful and sharply struck coin. Cleaned and with minor doubling, otherwise, good extremely fine.


Gabriel Bethlen, the famous - and notorious - Prince of Transylvania, remains a polarizing figure among historians to this day. In Hungary, he is celebrated as a national hero and a champion of early Enlightenment ideals, known for skillfully navigating between the Habsburgs and the Ottoman Empire. In contrast, German, Austrian, and Slovak historians often still portray him as a ruthless tyrant.

His Talers minted in Košice, with their unmistakably martial design, are among the most popular pieces in Transylvanian numismatics - especially when preserved as beautifully as the one we’re offering here.